Page 89 of The Playboy Billionaire

Oh shit!

My bloody friends and their big mouths!

April stands in the doorway, her cheeks flushed. This is where I want to murder all my friends and hide their bodies in the new foundations of her dance school.

“Hi, I’m April,” she says, stepping into the room.

Quentin has the good grace to look sheepish, especially when Marcus smacks him around the back of his head. “Sorry, April. We were only jesting,” he says, standing up and holding out his hand. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my friend go so red.

“I wasn’t expecting you home,” I hear myself say.

April looks at me, her eyes sparking. Shit, she heard more than she should.

“Clearly,” she says. “The movie was terrible. We gave up on it. Don’t mind me, I’ll leave you to yourboyschat and head upstairs. Gentleman.”

Shit! She did hear.

April turns to leave. Tristan, who is sitting to my right, nudges me hard in the ribs, gesturing wildly with his head.

“You’re free to join us,” I say, rubbing my bruised side.

April freezes before turning around. Making her way towards us.

“What are you playing?” she asks.

“Poker,” Gabriel says, making space next to him, and allowing April to sit down.

April does a double-take before holding out her hand. “You must be Gabriel,” she says, her eyes flitting between the two of you. “Similar, but not quite the same.”

Gabriel chuckles, and I know this is not the last I’ll be hearing of this. Only a handful of people can tell us apart. It looks like April is one of them.

“That’s what my wife says,” he says, taking her hand in his. “Pleased to meet you April. Let me introduce you to the rest of these reprobates.”

He introduces her to the other guys around the table, who are now on their best behaviour and incredibly apologetic.

It would be funny, if it wasn’t so embarrassing.

April takes a seat.

“Can I get you some wine?” Tristan asks, jumping to his feet.

April smiles up at him and my muscles tense. “That would be lovely.”

Tristan disappears into the kitchen and returns with a glass of wine. She thanks him with a dazzling smile, and my stomach hardens.

What’s with all the gentlemanly behaviour?

“Are you going to deal?” I say to Tristan. My question sharper than I want it to be.

Tristan smirks before shuffling the deck and dealing.

Two hours later, April has a pile equalling Gabriel’s. Who would have known my little dancer has a penchant for cards?

“Well gentleman. I’m going to call it a night. I have an early start in the morning.”

My friends all nod like puppy dogs. When April goes out of sight, I scowl at them all, making Gabriel the only one unaffected, smirk. “For god’s sake, put your tongues away. You’re embarrassing yourselves,” I snap.

The guys all turn at once before bursting out laughing.

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